But it
seemed as if nothing short of unconsciousness could bring cessation: the
sobs still tore their way out of her bosom, and the laughter came with a
terrible wrench that was more agonizing to hear than a groan.
Sophie had never seen Cornelia in hysterics before, and was tortured
with alarm and apprehension. She knew not what to do, for every attempt
she made to relieve her, seemed only to make her worse.
"Let me call papa--he must be somewhere in the house--he will know what
to do!" she said, at last, trembling and white.
"No! no!" cried Cornelia: and the shock of fear lest her father should
see her, overcame the grasp of the hysterical paroxysm. She half raised
herself on one arm, showing her face, red and disfigured, the veins on
the forehead standing out, full and throbbing. "Come back! come back!"
for Sophie had her hand on the door.
She returned, in compliance with her sister's demand, and knelt down
beside her on the floor. Cornelia let herself fall back, her head
resting on Sophie's knee, in a state of complete exhaustion. There she
lay, panting heavily; and a clammy pallor gradually took the place of
the deeply-stained flush. But the fit was over: by-and-by she sat up,
sullenly shunning Sophie's touch, and appearing to shrink even at the
sound of her voice.
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